Sightings and news to week ending 8 June
Tuesday 3 June
Estuary Tower
69 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover and 28 Sanderling in scattered flocks across the mud, distant views.
Middle Point
Male White-spotted Bluethroat singing and showing in the reedbeds. Single Sandwich and Arctic Terns in the estuary, trying to fly back down channel in a strong wind + single Whimbrel with 5 Curlew and 2 Dunlin to North of the point.
Top New Piece
Spoonbill, 10+ Redshank, 4 Lapwing, 8 Avocet, 30 Gadwall.
Kingfisher Hide
Kingfisher and Little Grebe, calling Cuckoo.
Rushy Hide
3cy Med Gull, Lapwing, 30 Avocet plus broods.
Monday 2 June
Long Ground Pool from Estuary Tower
Brood of six Shelducklings.
Rushy Hide
Our first Tufted Duck brood of seven ducklings on the Lower Pond. A few broods of Avocet and Black-headed Gulls, pair of Oystercatcher, 27 Gadwall and a Lapwing.
Top New Piece
The continuing Spoonbill, broods of 4, 5, 9 and 10 Mallards also 8 Gadwall, 12 Redshank and a few Tufted Ducks + Roe Deer. South Finger- Cuckoo singing. Reed Buntings, Sedge Warblers and Reed Warblers all showing and singing in the usual spots.
South Lake
Four drake and single duck Teal, 40 Gadwall, 2 drake Shoveler, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 80+ Avocet, a Common Tern was resting on the rail with Black-headed Gulls. Broods of Mallards.
Tack Piece
Great Egret, Lapwing and Oystercatchers, 16 Gadwall, Snow x Bar-headed Goose hybrid and the escaped/released Ross's Goose with the Barnacle Goose flock.
Middle Point
Calmer conditions and sunny weather encouraged the White-spotted Bluethroat to make display flights and defend it's territory against Reed Bunting, at least four of the latter singing here. Reed and Sedge Warblers are also nesting. Yesterday a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling to the North, in the couch grass/saltmarsh close to the Severn Ground fence. The Bluethroat has been showing very well, read the post below for more information.
https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge/...
Grounds
At least three broods of Mallard (2, 4 and 4).
